Automatic scoring system

ABSTRACT

AN ELECTRONIC SCORING SYSTEM FOR SCORING VEHICLES IN A PLURAL LAP RACE ON A RACE TRACK INCLUDING A TELEMETRY TRANSMITTER ON EACH VEHICLE TRANSMITTING DISTINCTIVE SIGNALS IDENTIFYING THE VEHICLE, TELEMETRY RECEIVERS FOR RECEIVING SIGNALS FROM THE TRANSMITTERS WHEN THE VEHICLES ARE IN A SELECTED RECEPTION RANGE ZONE NEAR THE FINISH LINE, VEHICLE COUNTERS ACTIVATED BY THE RESPECTIVE RECEIVERS FOR REGISTERING THE LAPS COMPLETED BY EACH VEHICLE, A LEAD LAP COUNTER FOR REGISTERING THE IDENTITY OF THE LEADING VEHICLE AND THE LAPS COMPLETED, LOGIC CIRCUITRY FOR STORING CERTAIN OF THIS REGISTERED INFORMATION, AND PRINTERS FOR PRODUCING A FIRST PRINTOUT AFTER EACH LAP OF THE VEHICLE NUMBER BY POLE POSITION, THE LAPS COMPLETED AND ELAPSED TIME, AND A SECOND PRINTOUT AFTER EVERY TENTH LAP OF THE ORDER OF THE VEHICLES.

U nited Mates Patent xse e K l L 7 E" 4/1970 Toyamaetalh 34o/323x {72]Inventor Eugene Emerson Clift 3,508,034

g Daymna Primary Examiner-John W. Caldwell 2 H App No 325 AssistantExaminerMichael Slobasky Filed D. n 1968 Allornev-Mason, Fenwick &Lawrence [45] Patented June 28, 1971 ABSTRACT: An electronic scoringsystem for scoring vehi- [54] AUTOMATIC SCORING SYSTEM cles in a plurallap race on a race track including a telemetry u Claim 7 Drawing Figs.transmitter on each vehicle transmitting distinctive signals identifyingthe vehicle, telemetry recetvers for receiving [52] US. Cl. 340/323,signals from the transmitters when the vehicles an i a 325/ -selectedreception range zone near the finish line, vehicle [5 l] Int. Cl A63k3/00 counters activated by the respective receivers f regislering [50]Field of Search 340/323, the laps Compkted by each which?' a lead lapcoumer f (lnql1ll'ed)325/66-29-111117 gistering the identity of theleading vehicle and the laps 56] Rehmm Cited completed, logic circuitryfor storing certam of thie registered mfonnation, and printers forproducing a first printout after UNrrED STATES PATENTS each lap of thevehicle number by pole position, the laps 2,229,324 [/1941 Gordon340/323X completed and elapsed time, and a second printout after every3,434,712 3/ 1969 Matsumura et al. 340/323X tenth lap of the order ofthe vehicles.

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AUTOMATIC SCORING SYSTEM BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Thepresent invention relates in general to electronic raceway scoringsystems and particularly to data processing and recording apparatus forelectronically recording information items relevant to the scoring ofvehicles on a vehicle racetrack and providing instant runninginformation on the race, such as the number of laps completed by eachvehicle, the elapsed time, the lap underway, and the vehicle numberaccording to pole position, and providing output information after everyl laps giving the order of the vehicles in the race relevant to eachtenth lap.

Heretofore, it has been difficult to totally eliminate human errorinvolved in manual scoring of vehicle races on race tracks andspeedways. Also, it is most difficult for spectators in the stands tohave prompt knowledge throughout the race of the relative standings andprogress of each of the contestant vehicles.

The present invention provides apparatus for automatically andcontinuously monitoring the progress of the vehicles in the race bytelemetry techniques and counting, storage and logic systems.

It provides for an instant readout of the laps completed by each vehiclein the race and gives the vehicle number according to pole position. Inaddition, it provides for a printout on a digital printer of the leadvehicle number, the lap it has completed and the elapsed time of therace. The apparatus also includes a digital clock to provide a visualreadout of the elapsed time throughout the race. Furthermore, the systemproduces a printout on a second printer of the actual standings of thevehicle according to positions after every l0 laps giving the proper thlap and the number of each vehicle in the order it completes thatparticular lap. Only vehicles within 10 laps of the lead vehicle will bescored during each 10 lap pn'n- I001.

A significant advantage of this invention is that it eliminates thehuman error involved in manual scoring of a race. It also will permitthe latest standings of the race being made available to the fans in thestands via closed circuit television as well as to the crews in thepits. Both the visual readout and the printouts will also be availablefor broadcasts and telecasts away from the track which will improveinterest in racing by keeping the fans up to date on the standingsthroughout the race.

Still another advantage of this invention is that all of the scoringdata on each car is retained by decade counters for each vehicle untilthe system is reset. In addition, the transient data, such as the leadcar number at the end of each lap, the lap completed and the elapsedtime, is retained as printed record. This information storagecapability, of course, is valuable in immediately determining the finalstandings of a race. However, in the event the race is interrupted, thisstored information on the number of laps completed by each vehicle wouldpermit a quick and accurate position determination of the vehicles whenthey line up for a restart of the race.

This system consists of a telemetry section, a counting and storagesection, a logic section. and two digital printers. The telemetrysection is composed of commercially available solid state telemetrytransmitters and receivers which, in one example, may operate, on 27megacycles with a range of about 350 feet. Each transmitter is sodesigned that only its receiver will respond. This section also includesa means of "locking in" on a signal as long as a vehicle remains in therange. The storage section consists of commercially available decadecounters, three for each vehicle (units, tens, hundreds), which areadvanced by the proper telemetry signal. These decade counters provideboth a visual readout at the front of the system's cabinet, and anelectrical readout of the count information to both the logic sectionand to the printers. Similar counters are used by the digital clockwhich gives hours, minutes and seconds. The logic section is composed ofreed relay modules mounted on printed circuit boards. This sectionperfonns the necessary logic functions to score the race as previouslydescribed. The system also includes the two digital printers which areactivated by the previously mentioned circuits and components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. I is a block diagram of theelectronic raceway scoring system of the present invention;

FIG. 2a to 2d collectively forms a schematic diagram of the electronicscoring system;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a multiple pushbutton switch controlcircuit usable in the present invention by which a consensus decision byat least two people may be required as to when a race vehicle crossesthe finish line or a check point; and

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of a programming selector switchwhich may be incorporated in the system so that the actual identifyingnumber of each vehicle can be programmed into the system prior to use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to thedrawings, wherein like reference characters designate correspondingparts throughout the several figures, the system of the presentinvention, as indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 1, includes a telemetrysection TL comprising transmitters T-l, T-2, and T-3, on the respectivevehicles involved in the race, and associated receivers RE-l, RE-2, andRE-3, respectively, tuned to the frequencies of the transmitters andhaving associated time delay switches TD-l, TD-Z and TD-3. Two digitalprinters PA and P8 are intercoupled with control switches CS, and areconnected with respective vehicle counters C1, C2 and C3 and with a leadlap counter LC, each having reed relay banks, generally designated bythe reference character RR associated therewith to provide appropriatecontrol and logic functions, whereby the counters will visually displaythe desired scoring and vehicle progress information at the front of thecabinet for the system and provide an electrical readout of the recordedinformation both to the logic relay components and to the printers.Printer PA also is intercoupled with the digital clock CK.

In the use of the system of the present invention, each racing vehiclewill be equipped with a solid state telemetry transmitter, three ofwhich are indicated in the drawings by the reference characters T1, T2and T3, which begin transmitting immediately upon the installation of abattery just prior to placing it in a racing vehicle, and each of whichtransmits a distinctive signal signifying the identity of the vehicle oncertain selected frequencies so that no two transmitters are sending thesame signal. The receivers RE-I, RE2 and RE-3, each have their ownantenna, which in one example may be associated in a single bundle ofmultiple antennae, consisting, for example, of an 8 foot length ofnumber 22 gauge copper wire for each receiver, so located relative tothe START- FINISH line that the leading edge of the transmitter signalis received when the vehicle reaches the START-FINISH line. The receivercircuitry for all of the receivers may be connected to their telemetryantenna located at the desired position relative to the START-FINISHline by a shielded cable and housed in a central cabinet which can belocated at any desirable location at the track, such as the press box ornear the chief scorer's desk. After the race is underway, the signalstransmitted from the vehicle transmitters, will be picked up by themultiple antennae bundle and sent to the proper receiver for activationof the counters, the logic circuitry, and the printers as laterdescribed in detail.

In the schematic wiring diagram of FIG. 2, the wiring details of thetransmitters, the receivers, the time delays TD-I, TD-2 and TD-3. thedigital clock CK and the two printers PA and P8 are not shown since theyare standard commercially available units. However, that portion oftheir wiring that is required to interconnect with the components of thescoring system is illustrated. Referring more particularly to FIG. 2,the control switches CS for the system include toggle switch TS-I, whichprovides the IIS XC required to operate the conventional time pulsegenerator of the digital clock CK and the motors of printers PA and PB.TS-Z is the switch that starts the clock CK at the beginning of the raceby providing 24 volts DC to its counters. Switch TS-3 turns on thetelemetry receivers RE-I to RE-3 of the telemetry section TL andprovides 24 volts DC to the rest of the scoring system. Switch TS-J isturned on only after all vehicles have cleared radio range following astart. Switch TS-4 resets the logic after completion of the race orbefore the start of a new race. Although indicated as toggle switches inthe schematic. key type ignition switches can be used in the system toprevent accidental or deliberate tampering with the system during a raceor until the race has been declared official.

Following closure of the switches TS-l through TS-J, the

. receipt of an appropriate tone signal by any of the receivers RE-I toRE-3 causes a contact closure within the receiver that sends a pulse tothe time delay unit TD-I, TD-2 or TD-3, linked to the receiver. Each ofthe time delay units is preferably conventional solid state,commercially available type, which starts its timing cycle when thetriggering pulse is terminated, and is so constructed that its timingcycle is automatically reset if an additional or stray pulse is receivedbefore it times out. This capability causes the receiver and associatedtime delay to lock on" to a transmitter signal when it comes withinrange to insure that a vehicle can only be counted once while withinsignal range. That is to say, the time delay device is such that, if anadditional or stray pulse is received during the timing cycle initiatedby an earlier pulse, the later pulse restarts the timing cycle withoutshifting the contact. and the vehicle counter C1, C2, or C3 associatedwith the time delay, is advanced by an off pulse or a break in thecontact closure, so that only one off pulse occurs as a result of thevehicle being in range. Thus, any vehicle making a pit stop or even in afringe area, is "locked in" and can only be counted once. Without thisfeature, it was found that fringe signals could be received as far apartas 5 seconds, causing faulty scoring on the counters. As a furthersafeguard, the time delay can be adjusted to timing cycles of 30, 40, or50 seconds, depending on the length of the race course and the maximumlap time, which settings will easily take the vehicle out of rangebefore the time delay can cycle out and a stray pulse advance the associated vehicle counter improperly. I

In the schematic diagram of FIG. 2, the vehicle counters CI to C3 areindicated as each composed of a units counter, a tens counter, and ahundreds counter, designated, for example, CIU, CIT and CIH, and thelead lap counter LC is also composed of units, tens and hundredscounters indicated respectively as LCU, LCT and LCH.

The lead lap units counter LCU is set on the No. l contact position atthe start of the race since this is the lap underway. A 24 volt DCpositive current is sent through the wiper arm and the No. I contactposition of counter LCU to the No. I contact position of all vehicleunits counters CIU, C2U, C3U in the system. Counters for only threevehicles are shown in the schematic to simplify the explanation of thissystem, with the wiring from contacts of the lead lap units counter LCUgoing only to the contacts of vehicle units counter CIU are shown tofurther simplify the schematic. It should be obvious that the firstvehicle to advance its units counter CIU, C2U or C3U from zero to itsNo. l contact position would be the lead vehicle and could send theproper pulse to trigger a printout on printer PA giving the vehiclenumber, lap completed and elapsed time. After the printout a signal issent from the printer PA through its feedback switch PBS-PA to the coilof the units counter LCU which immediately advances it to its No. 2contact position. Thus, only the lead car can obtain a printout onprinter PA. It also should be apparent that it doesn't matter whichvehicle is the first to complete lap one or subsequent lead laps.

This invention employs the second printout means by using printer PB toprint the standings of all the vehicles within l0 laps of the lead carafter every 10th lap. An isolated zero contact 0' on each of the vehicleunits counters CIU. CZU and CJU is used to trigger this printout.Storage relays, as will be later explained, store counting informationduring the printing period so that the scoring ofa vehicle won't bemissed during a printout.

The three decade counters comprising units, tens, and hundreds counters,such as counters CIU, CIT and CIH, assigned to each vehicle in the race,will count up to 999 laps which is more than sufficient to handle a 24hour sports car event. These decade counters are wired in a cascade typecircuit. It can be observed that the No. 9 auxiliary contact of each ofthe units counters ClU, CZU and CJU is used to send a pulse to the coilof the associated tens counter CIT, C2T and C3T. As previously stated,these counters advance on the off pulse and as a result the tens counterCIT would not advance until the associated unit counter CIU steps offits No. 9 contact position 'by advancing to Ol0th position. The No. 9auxiliary contact of each tens counter CIT, C2T and CST is used in alike manner to send the proper signal to the hundreds counters CIH, C2Hand C3H. The counters C1, C2 and C3 are assigned according to poleposition and are so numbered as are the transmitters that are placed ineach vehicle. The proper receiver-delay units TD-I, Td-2 and TD-3 arelinked to the coil of their respective vehicle units counters ClU, C2Uand C3U which can be easily traced on the schematic.

Directly above the vehicle counter CIU, CIT and CIH. as illustrated inFIG. 2, are reed relays R-I, R-2 and R-3. The coil of relay R-3 will bepulled in through the wiper arm of the vehicle units counter CIU anytimeit advances to a contact energized by current sent through the wiper armof the lead lap units counter LCU through one of its 10 contacts,depending only on the position of its wiper arm. Reed relays R-3 aresimilarly connected to the wiper arm counters CIT and ClH. Reed relaysRIA to R3A and RIB -to R38 are connected in like manner to the wiperarms of their associated hundreds, tens and units counters of vehiclecounters C2 and C3. As stated previously, any of the units counters ClU,C2U and C3U may be the first to advance from 0 to the hot" I contact ofits units counter. However, the lead lap counter LCU is immediatelyadvanced to its No. 2 contact position following a single printout whichresults in only the lead vehicle being scored on printer PA.

Above the lead lap counters LCU and LCT are latching reed relays LR-3and LR4. It can be observed that the normal off position of latch relayLR-4 will send 24 volts DC through its top closed contact position tothe top closed contacts of R-I, R-lA and R-lB. It also can be observedthat the same current is being sent through the top closed contact ofR-1 and the top closed contact of R-Z, to the top open input side of thecontact of R-3. Similar circuits can be traced to R-JA and R-3B. Thisresults in only the leading vehicle being able to satisfy the first twoconditions for a printout, namely, (l) to be the first to advance any ofthe unit counters ClU, C2U, C3U to a "hot" contact, and (2) to havecurrent to the open contact of the relay it pulled in through a circuitfrom its wiper arm to the relay coil. It also can be observed that whenthe lead lap counter LCU reaches its zero (10th) position. an isolatedzero 0' will then send a negative pulse to the latch coil of lR-4, whichopens its top closed contact and closes the open bottom contact. Thissets up a hot" circuit from the bottom contact LR-4 to the second closedcontact of R4, R-IA and R-lB. A current is now sent from the secondclosed contact of R-l to the second open contact of R-2 and to the opencontact of R-J if R-2 has been pulled in.

It should be evident now that for a vehicle to obtain a lead carprintout, it must satisfy a third condition; namely, (3) be the firstvehicle to reach the No. I contact position of the tens counter CIT, C2Tor CST. or as may be the case, satisfy the conditions of both the tensand units counters. This also releases the units counters C I.U, C2U orC3U of any vehicle in a trailing position from having current to itsunits relay contacts. It also should be noted that the lower or secondcontact of LR-4 obtains current through a closed contact of LR-3. Whenthe hundreds lead lap counter LCH reaches the No. I contact position,indicating completion of I00 laps, it will pull in the latch coil ofLR-3 which will close the top open contact and open the previouslyclosed bottom contact. This sets up the new hot circuit which leads tothe third open contact of R-l. R-lA and R-lB. This also sets up a fourthcondition to obtain a printout; namely, (4) the lead car must be in theproper hundreds lap and in addition must be in identical tens and unitslaps of the lead lap counters LC in order to obtain a printout.

To obtain a lead lap printout, additional switching actions occur; ifR-3 is pulled in through the units counter ClU and all the aboveconditions necessary for a lead lap are met, the closing of the opencontact of relay R-3 will pull in the coil of relay R-4, which willclose its three open contacts. The top contact of R-4 will then pull inthe coil of relay R8, closing this contact which activates a readoutcommand in the digital clock CK through its e andfconnector contacts. A24 volt DC negative print command PC-PA is then sent to printer PA andnegative also is supplied as a common to the print selector solenoidsincorporated in the printer PA. The positive current already is beingsupplied by circuits shown in the schematic with one or more of the leadlap decade counters LC through the numbered connector contact. The leadlap hundreds counter LCH only shows six contacts since that will handlea 24 hour race, but it actually is a decade counter. The clock printoutinformation in the form of positive current also had been supplied, andawaits this negative current to operate proper print selector solenoids.A positive pulse also has been sent through the lower contact of R-4 tothe proper vehicle identification number solenoid of the printer and it,too, is activated by the negative power supply provided by the clockswitch closure. The extra contact on R-4 is used when a two digit numberis required to identify a vehicle. A feedback switch FBS-PA in printerPA also accepts the negative pulse and transfers it through the closedcontact to the coil of the lead lap units counter LCU. When the printouthas been completed, the feedback switch FBS-PA opens momentarily,

breaking the negative current to the coil of the lead lap counter LCUwhich, as stated before, advances or counts"on the off pulse. This' inturn sets up a new lead lap or lap underway condition and the power isremoved from No. I contact of vehicle counter ClU, CZU and CJU whichdrops out R-3, R-4 and R-8 and returns both the clock CK and printer PAto their ready positions to accept the next print command.

Printer PB provides a printout of all vehicles within 10 laps of thelead vehicle every l0 laps. In addition, it will print the proper lapbeing counted, such as 10, 20, 30, etc. This lap count is obtained byprinter PB solenoids by connections to the lead lap tens and hundredscounters LCT and LCU only. The printer PB prints the unit 0"automatically unless given another command. These lap connections arenot shown but would duplicate the DC positive current connections of thetens and hundreds counters LCT and LCH to the numbered contacts, asshown for printer PA.

To start the 10 lap printout cycle the first condition to be met is thatthe lead lap must be advanced l0 laps which provides the positivecurrent to one side of the coil of relay R-S. The negative will besupplied by the isolated zero contact 0' of the units counters ClU, CZUand C3U activated by the signals from the transmitters of the variousvehicles. These will be activated in the order each vehicle completes l0laps. Only those vehicles completing 10 laps before the lead caradvances 10 laps can be counted during any 10 lap period, since both R-1and R-2 conditions dictated by the lead lap tens and hundreds counterLCT and LCH must be satisfied in addition to a zero condition of thevarious vehicle units counters ClU, C2U and CJU. The open contact ofrelay R-S then pulls in the latch coil of relay LR-l providing that noprinter PB print command is in its print cycle. In such event the powerto the contacts of relay R-S has been removed by relay R-7 beingactivated by a prior print command. This circuitry enables the storageof a printout command until the earlier printout is completed. If twoprint commands are received at the same time, the first one in theseries circuit would be favored. Continuing with the command circuitryof printer PB, when relay LR-l pulls in it provides power through itscontact to the contacts of relay R-6. Power is sent through the thirdclosed contact of relay R-6 to the latch coil of relay LR-Z, and throughits second closed contact to its own coil. A capacitor is included inthis circuit for the purpose of providing a slight delay to insure thatthe coil of LR-2 has been pulled in and for a more positivemake-before-break action of the R-6 coil, which is then held in by thetop open contact of relay R-6 until the triggering relay, R-5, dropsout. The purpose of relay R-6 is to permit only one signal being sent tolatch relay LR-Z during the about SO-second period the units counter ClUremains at the zero position before the vehicle can make another lap.Once relay LR-Z is pulled in, it sends a pulse through its top contactto pull in relay R 7, which as stated previously, prevents any otherattempt for printer PB printout until the present printout is completed.The second contact of LR-Z sends a negative print command pulse PC-PB toprinter PB. The bottom contact of LR-2 sends the positive pulse to theproper digital selector solenoid in printer PB. As in printer PA, thenegative print command pulse also is used as the common for the digitalselector solenoids of printer PB. A positive print complete pulse PBS-PBwill be sent back by printer P8 to the reset coil of relay LR-2. whichcan be received since the set pulse was of momentary duration. Thisterminates the print command cycle and drops out relay R-7, so that anyprint command held in storage can now obtain a printout. Reed relay R-7is in a common circuit with all the print command circuits of printerPB, one for each set of vehicle decades in the system.

As previously mentioned, the logic circuit formed of relays R-l to R-8and latch relays LR-l to LR-4 is reset through momentary closure ofswitch TS-4. The decade counters used to control and count laps can bereset in a well-known manner by the wiring diagram provided by themanufacture of the counters. The digital clock CK is reset by necessarycontrols installed by the manufacturer on the front of the clock panel.

With this system as visual readout of the laps completed by each vehiclein the race, the elapsed time and the laps underway, representing arunning score of the event is instantly available for the broadcast andtelecast, or closed circuit TV to the spectators in the stands, bymonitoring the counter indicators and digital clock indicators on thefront of the cabinet in which this system is housed, and the printersprovide a printout of the lead vehicle number and laps completed andelapsed time as well as a printout of the order of completion of eachsuccessive tenth lap by the vehicles.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a multiple pushbuttonswitch control circuit which may be incorporated in the system toprovide a sophisticated, foolproof, method for manually encoding thelaps completed by each vehicle whereby one or more ofl'icial scorers,one for each pushbutton, must reach a consensus verdict as to the exactmoment the vehicle being scored crosses the START-FINISH line or crossesa checkpoint for an additional lap count.

Referring to FIG. 3, showing this multiple pushbutton circuit associatedwith time delay unit TD-l, it will be observed that the two pushbuttonsPB-l and PB-2 are connected together in series circuit relation acrossthe same trigger switch contacts of time delay unit TD-l which activatethe latter upon contact closure in the associated receiver RE-l. Thesignal contacts of the time delay unit TD-l are connected, as shown, tothe coil of associated units counter ClU and to the indicator lamp lL-l,whereby activation of TD-l drops out power to the lamp lL-l0 andimmediately advances the units counter ClU 1 step. Pushbuttons PB-l andPB-Z are wired in series so that both must be activated to energize thetime delay relay TD-l, which duplicates the contact closure action inthe radio receiver unit RE-l. Thus. either receiver contact closure. orsimultaneous closure of the two pushbuttons will activate the time delayunit TD-l to start its timing cycle. depending on which occurred first.The timing cycle begins when trigger circuit is released. but willrecycle if trigger circuit is again closed before reset time cycle iscompleted, as for example, by a fringe telemetry signal.

This pushbutton circuit is employed with the scoring system in such away that the scorers are alerted prior to the vehicle reaching thecheckpoint. For example. assume that a vehicle traveling at top speedcould complete a lap on a particular track in 50 seconds. and that thetime delay TD-l is set for a 30-second delay cycle. Upon activation ofthe time delay unit TD-l to start timing out its timing cycle by theclosure of the contacts of the receiver REI as a result of a signaltransmitted by the transmitter of the associated vehicle, the power iswithdrawn from the pushbutton switches PB-l and PB-Z and from indicatorlight lL-l. as well as from the coil of the associated decade counterClU which is immediately advanced by the "off" pulse. Assuming that thetransmitter in the vehicle remains in signal range for l seconds. thisadded to the 30-second delay that starts from the moment that the lastsignal is received will result in the power being restored to theindicator light and the associated counter only after 40 seconds haveelapsed. During this period. no additional counts can be made by eitherthe pushbuttons. telemetry. or any other means. The indicator light willcome back on about seconds before the vehicle is due to pass thecheckpoint, thus again alerting the scorers.

It should be obvious that manual encoding could be provided by a singlepushbutton PB-l. as shown in FIG. 2c. which would require only onescorer for each vehicle. This would be desirable when the pushbuttonencoders are used as a BACKUP for the telemetry system. The previouslydescribed double pushbutton encoding system is designed primarily forraces where radio transmitters and receivers are not used although itshould be obvious that they also could function as a backup for thetelemetry system. The backup provision would be necessary in event atelemetry transmitter went out of action as the result of a collisionthat wasn't severe enough to keep the vehicle from continuing in therace. As previously described. only one count can be obtained during alap whether it is the result of activating the pushbutton encoder or theresult of the radio receiver sending the signal to trigger the timedelay in that particular circuit, thus removing the DC negative currentfrom the units counter coil for the preset delay period. When the fullcycle of the time delay is completed. it restores the power to theassociated indicator lamp and cocks" the associated decade counter whichwill advance on the off pulse the next time the time delay is triggeredby either the pushbutton or telemetry means.

FIG. 4 illustrates diagrammatically programming selector switches whichmay be incorporated in the system. if desired. so that the actual numberof each vehicle may be programmed into the system prior to the race.This would result in the printout on both printer PA and printer PB ofthe correct number of the vehicle instead of the number according topole position. This is achieved by assigning the encoding unitsaccording to pole position as previously described. but channeling thecircuits through the programming selector switches before connectionsare made to the printers. For example. assume that a proper encodingpulse has been sent by vehicle 0]. designating the lead pole position,and that the actual number of the vehicle is 44. and assuming that thisvehicle has just registered a lead lap for a printout on printer PA. Bychanneling circuits from the two bottom contacts of relay R-4 (see FIG.2a) to the units and tens 0! contacts, respectively of the programmerunits PU shown in FIG. 4, the number 44 would be printed out by printerPA assuming that the slide switches of the two programmer units are setto connect the vertical and horizontal conductors at the crossing pointsA and B shown in FIG. 4 and that the lower terminals of the verticalconductors are connected to the proper circuits of the printer PA.

Contacts of programmer units as illustrated in FIG. 4, also providecircuits for printer PB. Assuming the vehicle 01 provided a proper lapencoding pulse for a l() lap standings printout. the bottom two contactsof latch relay LR-Z would. when closed. send proper pulses to the unitsand tens 0l programmer circuits which will also be set as indicated inFIG. 4. to result in the number 44 being printed out on the printer B.

lclaim:

I. An electronic vehicle race scoring system for registering scoringinformation including the number of completed laps regarding each of thevehicles engaged in a race of plural laps on a race track, comprisingmeans for continuously maintaining throughout the race a count of thenumber of laps completed by each vehicle including a plurality of firstcoun ters each assigned to a respective one of said vehicles. telemetrytransmitter means in each vehicle for transmitting distinctiveidentifying signals for each vehicle. telemetry receiver means for eachvehicle having a selected reception range restricting reception oftransmitted signals from its associated vehicle transmitter means tovehicle locations in only a selected portion of a lap and stationed toreceive signals from said transmitters when the respective associatedvehicle reaches a location along the race track signifying completion ofa lap and apply an activation signal to the first counter associatedtherewith. means activated by said first counters for continuouslyproducing an output indication of the laps completed by each vehiclethroughout the race. second counters actuated responsive to said firstcounters for recording the number of laps completed by the leadingvehicle and the identifying number thereof. and printer meansintercoupled with said counters for producing a printout after everytenth lap designating the number of the lap and the identifying numberof each vehicle in the order they completed that lap.

2. An electronic vehicle race scoring system as defined in claim 1.including first logic circuit means coupled with said second countersfor determining which vehicle is to be credited with scoring a lead lap.and second logic circuit means coupled with said counters forconditioning said printer means to score the standings of each vehicleafter every 10 laps. I

3. An electronic vehicle race scoring system for registering scoringinformation including the number of completed laps regarding each of thevehicles engaged in a race of plural laps on a race track, comprisingmeans for continuously maintaining throughout the race a count of thenumber of laps completed by each vehicle including a plurality of firstcounters each assigned to a respective one of said vehicles. telemetrytransmitter means in each vehicle for transmitting distinctiveidentifying signals for each vehicle, telemetry receiver means for eachvehicle having a selected reception range restricting reception oftransmitted signals from its associated vehicle transmitter means tovehicle locations in only a selected portion of a lap and stationed toreceive signals from said transmitters when the respective associatedvehicle reaches a location along the race track signifying completion ofa lap and apply an activation signal to the first counter associatedtherewith. means activated by said first counters for continuouslyproducing an output indication of the laps completed by each vehiclethroughout the race, and a multiple pushbutton circuit for each vehicleentered in the race having a pair of pushbuttons to be manuallyconcurrently actuated by two separate scoring officials when theassociated vehicle reaches a selected position along the track. saidpushbuttons circuit being connected to the first counter for theassociated vehicle to activate said counter to score a lap only uponconcurrent actuation of said pushbuttons.

4. An electronic vehicle race scoring system for registering scoringinformation regarding each of the vehicles engaged in a race of plurallaps on a race track, comprising a plurality of first counters eachassigned to a respective one of said vehicles, telemetry transmittermeans in each vehicle for transmitting distinctive identifying signalsfor each vehicle. telemetry receiver means for each vehicle having aselected reception range restricting reception of transmitted signalsfrom its associated vehicle transmitter means to vehicle locations inonly a selected portion of a lap and stationed to receive signals fromsaid transmitters when the respective associated vehicle reaches alap-designating location along the race track and apply an activationsignal to the first counter associated therewith, and means activated bysaid first counters for continuously producing an output indication ofthe laps completed by each vehicle throughout the race, each of saidtelemetry receiver means including the time delay means for immediatelyactivating the associated first counter to register completion of a lapand concurrently initiating timing out of a selected delay cycleresponsive to reception of transmitted signals from its associated saidtime delay means preventing another activation of the associated firstcounter until after timing out of a selected time delay cycle by saidtime delay means adequate for departure of the associated vehicle fromthe normal reception range of the receiver means.

5. An electronic vehicle race scoring system as defined in claim 4,including first printer means for producing an immediate and automaticprintout after each lap of a number identifying the lead vehicle and thelap completed.

6. An electronic vehicle race scoring system as defined in claim 4,including clock means for timing the elapsed time from the start of therace, and means coupling said clock means with said first printer meansfor including in said printout a record of the elapsed time of the racefor each lap printout.

7. An electronic vehicle race scoring system as defined in claim 4,including second printer means for producing a printout after every 10thlap designating the number of the lap and the identifying number of eachvehicle in the order they complete that lap 8. An electronic vehiclerace scoring system as defined in claim 4, including a multiplepushbutton circuit for each vehicle entered in the race having a pair ofpushbuttons to be manually concurrently actuated by two separate scoringotficials when the associated vehicle reaches a selected position alongthe track. said pushbutton circuit being connected to the time delaymeans for the associated vehicle to activate said first counter to scorea lap only upon concurrent actuation of said pushbuttons.

9, An electronic vehicle race scoring system as defined in claim 8.including an alerting lamp, and means connecting said alerting lamp withsaid time delay means for energizing said lamp upon completion of saidtime delay cycle.

l0. An electronic vehicle race scoring system as defined in claim 4,including a single pushbutton backup circuit for each vehicle entered inthe race to be manually operated by scoring officials when theassociated vehicle reaches a selected position along the track, saidpushbutton circuit being connected to said time delay means for theassociated vehicle for activating said first counter to score a lapimmediately upon activa' tion of the said time delay means by either atriggering pulse from the single pushbutton or said telemetry receivermeans.

H. An electronic vehicle race scoring system as defined in claim 9,including a single pushbutton backup circuit for each vehicle entered inthe race to be manually operated by scoring ofi'icials when theassociated vehicle reaches a selected position along the track, saidpushbutton circuit being connected to said time delay means for theassociated vehicle for activating said first counter to score a lapimmediately upon activation of the said time delay means by either atriggering pulse from the single pushbutton or said telemetry receivermeans

